The Spirit of New Orleans

by LuAnne Silvia
I recently had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at the movie theater. It was a family affair and we chose to see Disney's The Princess and the Frog. It has all the elements that make up a classic Disney movie. I liked the story's inspiring message about paying particular attention to your own introspective thought and discovering what you need, verses what you want, in your life. But for me what I really enjoyed most about the movie was to see the city of New Orleans come to life through hand animation on the big screen.
I have traveled to New Orleans twice in the past three years. I fell in love with the richness of the city's history, culture, architecture, art, color, energy, people, music and cuisine on our first trip and vowed to return. The second trip only made me want to come back yet again. My favorite thing to do on vacation is to explore the city's history through tours and to talk with the people who live there about what they love about their city. In New Orleans there are plenty of opportunities for adventure. Neighborhood walking tours, historic home tours, plantation tours, endless art galleries and antique shops, museums, and don't forget to venture outside of the city and go on a swamp tour. We met gallery owners and musicians who were eager to share their stories and their talents with us. Hotel personnel who were happy to share the best shops and restaurants. A seasoned swamp expert who led us to an up close look at a 13 foot alligator. We met even more people who traveled from all over the country to experience the spirit of New Orleans. Some were first time visitors but most had returned to continue to be inspired by the city.
I loved watching how the creative artists translated New Orleans into the artwork for the movie The Princess and the Frog. Here are a few scenes from the movie along with photos from my trips. Check back each day this week and I'll take you on a trip to New Orleans and share details of the city that I found inspiring. And you can always head to the movies to escape to St Louis Cathedral, stroll down Royal Street, ride a streetcar and have a beignet with The Princess and The Frog.
Street scenes from The Princess and The Frog


Photos of New Orleans street scenes from my trips...




Streetcar scene from The Princess and The Frog

Photo of streetcar from my trip

Swamp scenes from The Princess and The Frog


Photos of alligator (minus the trumpet) and swamp from my trips...